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(No Model.)

T. W. F. SMITTEN.

PEN AND PENCIL HOLDER.

' No. 339,817. Patented Apr. 13,1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Erica.

THOMAS \V. F. SMITTEN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

PEN AND PENCIL HOLDER.

SZ ECEFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 339,817, dated April 13, 1886.

Serial No. 174,797. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I. THOMAS W. F. SMITTEN, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pen and Pencil Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of devices which have provision for the attachment to them of two or more pen or pencil holders, and which form a connection between such two or more holders and the stick or handle by which the implement is held when in use. In such devices two or more pencils or pens may be employed and used with one hand to producein ruling or writing two or more separate lines, or to produce lines which may be single in some parts and double in other parts. By employing pencils of different colors or pens dipped in different-colored inks, very beautiful and pleasing effects may be produet-d.

The object of my invention is to provide a device or connection between the pencil or pen holders and the handle on which the holders will be supported side by side, and which is so constructed that when pressure is applied through the handle the pencils or pens will be caused to spread laterally or move apart to produce separate lines and to vary the distance between the lines produced by them, while when pressure is removed from the handle the pencils or pens will move inward or nearer together, so as to produce single lines, if desired.

The invention consists, essentially, in the combination, with two pen or pencil holders and a handle, of a connection between the holders and handle, comprising arms one or both of which are elastic or yielding, and which are arranged side by side, and which, by pressure applied through the handle, will spread laterally in order to vary the distance between their attached hoders. Ialso secure the pen or pencil holders upon the elastic arms of the connection, so that said holders may be adjusted nearer to or farther from each other before the device is used, and by which construction provision is afforded not only for the spreading of the pens or pencils automatically while in use, but for setting them at a definite distance apart before use.

I also employ with the connection a cam,

which, by pressure applied through the handle, will be forced downward or introduced between the elastic arms in order to spread them and their attached pen or pencil holders positively.

The two features of construction above described are included in my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of a device embodying my invention, showing two pens fixed in holders which are adjustable laterally toward and from each other upon the elastic arms of the connection. Fig. 2 is an end view of the connection and pen-holders which are shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional side view upon the plane of the dotted line or m, Fig. 1, showing the construction of the pen-holder, which is adjustable upon the elastic arm of the connection. Fig. 4 represents a plan illustrating a modification of my invention, and Fig. 5 is an end view of the connection shown between the pen-holders and handle in Fig. 4.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, a a designate two pens of ordinary form, which are fitted in holders b. The holders are made in the form of sockets, which conform more or less approximately to the transverse section of the pen, and which are constructed with elastic tongues b, which lie upon the under side of the pens when inserted in the holders and form self-feeders for inking. The elastic connection between the pen-holders b and the handle or stick A comprisesa cylindric socket, 0, into which the handle or stick is inserted, a downwardly bent or turned shank, d, (best shown in Fig. 3,) and elastic arms 6, which are arranged side by side and extend forward and then outward from the shank d. These elastic arms 6 are constructed with upwardlyprojecting ears or wings e, which are best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the stick or handle A may be inserted a sufficient distance through the cylindric socket 0 to come between these ears or wings 0; hence it will be seen that when pressure is applied through the stick or handle Aits inner projecting end will be forced downward between the ears or wings e, and by such action will spread the ears or wings e and elastic arms e, from which'they project. The elastic arms 6 carry the penholders b, and, as represented, the pen-holders have formed in them mortises I), through which the elastic arms 6 are inserted, as best shown in Figs. 1 and .2. This construction and method of attaching the pen-holders to the arms provides for sliding the pen-holders laterally upon the arms toward and from each other, so that the pens a may be set at definite distances apart.

It will be seen that when the elastic arms e are forced apart or spread laterally bythe cam-like action of the handle or stick the pen-holders 12, being attached'to these arms, will likewise be spread laterally, and when the stick or handle is relieved of pressure the arms 6 and their attached pen-holders will-return laterally toward each other or nearer together by reason of the elasticity of the arms 6.

The connection between the pen-holders b and the handle or stick A (shown in Figs. 4 and 5) is very similar to that above described,

except that the elastic arms 0 are provided with cylindric sockets or slides 6 in which are'inserted the cylindric or barrel-like penholders 1)., In this case, however, instead of utilizing the end of the handle or stick A as a cam to force the elastic arms e apart laterally,

I have represented the cylindrie stick-socket c as continued forward sufficiently far to lie between the ears or wings e, and to serve as a cam for spreading them apart. In this case the sockets 6 upon the end of the arms 6 are formed in the same piece or rigidly connected with the arms 0, and hence no provision is afforded for the adjustment of the pen-holders toward and from each other; but said holders and their pens are caused to move toward and from each other only by the elasticity and flexibility of the arms 6, and automatically.-

It will be seen that by adjusting the pens a lengthwise in their holders their points may be brought nearer to or farther from each other,

because the pen-holders and pens are arranged so that they converge toward the points of the pens. The holders may even be adjusted so that the points of the pens or pencils may come so close together in their normal condition as to combine to form a singleline. Then by applying a varied pressure they may be made to diverge at various distances-to form lines which in places are single and in other places double, and at varying distances apart.

If my improved device is to be employed for holding pencils,the pencils may be readily inserted into the sockets e of the device rep resented in Figs. 4 and 5, in lieu of the barrellike pen-holders b.

It is obvious that,instead of making both 7 the arms 6 elastic or yielding, one of them might be comparatively stifl and theother made sufficiently flexible to obtain the desired degree of separation by pressure applied through the handle.

In my application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 174,529, filed August 17, 1885, I have shown and described adouble or multiple pointed pen comprising a head or stock for insertion in an ordinary pen'holder and elastic shanks extending therefrom and provided at their ends with converging pen-tips. I do not desire to include such a construction in my present invention, which consists in a device or connection whereby two pens of ordinary form may be connected with one holder or stick.

secure by Letters Patent, is-

- 1'. The combination, with two pen or pencil holders and a handle, of a connection be tween the said holders and the'handle, comprising arms one or both of which are elastic or yielding, and which are arranged side by side, whereby pressure applied through the handle will cause the holders to spread or separate laterally, and whereby the holders will contract or be brought nearer together when the handle is relieved ofpressure, substantially as herein described.

2. The combination, with two penor pencil holders and a handle, of a connection be tween the holders and handle,comprisingarms one or both of which are elastic or yielding,

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to I V and which are arranged sideby side. and on which the holders are secured and capableof lateral adj ustment toward and from each other, whereby pressure applied through the handle will cause the arms.and holders to spread or separate laterally, and whereby the arms and holders will contract or be brought nearer together when the handleis relieved of pressure, substantially as herein described.

' 3. The combination, with two pen or pencil holders and a handle, of a connection between the holders and handle,coniprising arms one or both of which are elastic or yielding, and which are arranged side by side, and to which the holders are attached, and a cam which, by pressure applied through the handle, is introduced betweenthe arms and made to spread them and their attached holders, substantially as herein described. I 4

T. W. F. SMITTEN.

Vitnesses:

G. HALL, FREDK. HAYNES. 

